MIDDLETOWN >> With the general election now two months away, the state Working Families Party has endorsed a Democrat for mayor and one for Common Council, as well as one exiled Republican — but not the other — who is trying to retain his council seat.

Drew and Chisem are Democrats. Pessina, a Republican, missed out on the GOP’s nomination for reelection — as did Deputy Minority Leader Joseph Bibisi — after breaking ranks to vote along with council Democrats on departmental mergers at City Hall.

The city Realistic Balance Party also endorsed Pessina and Bibisi, and propped up local satirist John Kilian as a challenger for mayor. Kilian has espoused taxing drive-thrus throughout the city, and in a recent letter to the Middletown Insider website, proposed zoning changes to dissuade fast-food restaurants from setting up shop near schools.

“After careful consideration and deliberation, the Connecticut Working Families Party State Committee has decided to endorse Philip Pessina, but not Joseph Bibisi,” according to a written statement from party spokesman Taylor Leake. “The party made its determination after a lengthy process of reviewing questionnaires, meeting with the candidates and researching the candidates’ records in office.”

According to the statement, “the Working Families Party stands for economic justice. It stands up for workers and their families by advocating for issues like a higher minimum wage and paid sick days.”